Health researchers say that bad times sometimes come with good news. During the 'Great depression', life expectancy went up with a reduced death rate from diseases, accidents and infant mortality, as per the findings of the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.

Jose´ Tapia Granados and Ana Diez Roux of the University of Michigan conducted a study and in their analyses the authors reconfirmed that from 1930-1933, the life expectancy increased for all ages and races nationwide, despite the fact that the suicide rates went up by 2 percent during the peak of the Great Depression.

"Economic expansions have been linked to increases in smoking and alcohol consumption, reductions in sleep, and increases in work stress related to overtime and faster and more strenuous labor, all of which are associated with adverse health outcomes and mortality among healthy persons and among persons with underlying chronic disease," concludes the study.

The frequency of accidents reduced, along with pollution due to less economic activity. On the whole the life expectancy went up for nine years, during 1920-1940, as per the researchers.

The mortality rate was high during the economically sound years. History stands proof to the fact that no other mortality rate goes up during recession apart from a slight increase in suicide rates. All other causes of fatalities that exist during good economy go down and the life expectancy is increased as a result of recession.